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Pastoral Pondering: How can we appear more `redeemed'
to non-believers? |
A quotation by the 19th Century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche has
lingered in the back of my mind: “Christians will have to look more redeemed if they
want me to believe their redeemer.”
Although known for his stance against Christianity, Nietzsche’s remark
has a ring of truth to it. So how can we “look more redeemed?”
For me the answer lies in living out the reality of Christ’s
resurrection. One of the great gifts and mysteries as followers of Christ is that we share
in the triumph of the resurrection.
The divine potential it offers is meant to be experienced in the very
circumstances of our lives now and not regulated to the first Easter morning. Quakers have
long captured this precious truth in our testimony of the present Christ. Jesus is alive,
continuing what he began so long ago.
The apostle Paul lived by this truth and wrote of it often. Romans 6:5 says,
“If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly be united with him
in his resurrection.”
Also, Paul shares his heartfelt desire in Philippians 3:10, “I want to
know Christ and the power of his resurrection ...”.
One of my faith heroines, Corrie ten Boom, always admonished her listeners
“to live as rich as you are.” In other words, act and “look like” we
have a risen redeemer.
In the resurrection we share possibilities and potentials we could not dare to
consider for ourselves and the world God loves. Our entire way of processing life’s
uncertainties and discouragements can be dramatically changed if we begin with the
incredible potential embodied in the resurrection. My thinking is too often limited by
caution and insecurity about our human world.
I am helped immensely when I allow the resurrection to realign and permeate
my thoughts and prayers. Barriers we think insurmountable can be brought down; doors can
be opened; burdens can be carried to a better day. The resurrection is a great antidote to
the hopelessness and cynicism that often overtake our thinking.
As Gregg’s messages about Moses have reminded us, we rarely think
“what we’ve got isn’t enough.” By sharing in the resurrection we have
the divine added ingredient for our needy lives.
I am so grateful for the resurrection and its promise of new beginnings and
hope-filled possibilities. I want to “look like” and live like it makes a
difference now ... because it does.
Kay Goslin is a member of Newberg Friends Church. |
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From Nov. 22,
2003, Newberg Graphic
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